Mastery of urban politics helped the Irish rise from huddled masses to the heights of political power. An Ghorta Mór, the devastating famine that drove over one-and-a-half million Irish to America, put in place the foundations of the Irish-American community for the next 120 years. The Famine immigrants were a deeply rural people. Endowed with few material resources or … [Read more...] about The Road to the White House
June July 2010 Issue
A Living Memorial
"Pray for the dead, but fight like hell for the living." - Mother Jones This special issue on the Great Hunger is an effort to tell the story of what happened in Ireland and explore more fully the story of those who survived the crossing and began a new life in America. While there’s no denying the darkness of the story, the colossal loss of life, the fractured families, the … [Read more...] about A Living Memorial
Return to Ireland
The kings of Ireland were not inaugurated in Christian churches as were other European monarchs. The chieftains stood on the high hills that enclosed the tombs of their tribal ancestors during the ceremonial rites that made them king. This image, given to us by Eamonn Kelly, Keeper of Irish Antiquities, National Museum of Ireland, resonated with our group. We were Irish … [Read more...] about Return to Ireland
The Irish American Dream
Compiled by Kara Rota, Tara Dougherty, Aliah O'Neill, Anne Thompson, and Ron Kaplan
June / July 2010
June / July 2010
The Irish who survived the perilous journey to America struggled to build a new life for themselves and their families in the new world, and in doing so, they would help to shape American culture. Here are just a few of our Irish heroes, Famine immigrants and their descendants, who rose to the top in the industry, arts, culture, business, and politics. Annie … [Read more...] about The Irish American Dream
The Search for Missing Friends
From 1831 through 1916, the national Boston Pilot newspaper printed some 45,000 “Missing Friends” advertisements placed by friends and relatives in attempts to locate loved ones lost during emigration. These ads, consolidated into edited volumes, provide a valuable record of a poor emigrant population trying to reach one another. Several of these volumes were edited by Emer … [Read more...] about The Search for Missing Friends